E.G.
Hey girl I'm sorry you're going thru this! I'll give you what advice I've got...financially you should eliminate EVERY unnecessary expense. Look at phone bills, cable, cell phone, DSL costs. Call all your providers and ask them if there is any way to save money. If you don't get access to regular tv channels without cable the cable company is required to offer you local channels for about $15. What they don't tell you is that they won't filter out the basic cable channels that come in too so you could get basic cable for that price. Ask the phone, gas and electric company about reduced rates for low income. You may be suprised how much you can make and still qualify. Also look into level pay with the electric company. Knowing what your bill will be every month helps with budgeting. Try to divide your bills by what has to be paid with the first paycheck and what with the next paycheck. Then try to save any paycheck that comes in that gives you a "third" paycheck in a month. In other words try to budget for only getting two paychecks a month.
Now on to the emotional...join a divorce recovery group at your church or in your community. I didn't want to go to one, mainly because I wasn't really that upset about being divorced (my soon to be ex was emotionally abusive and horrible to live with) but I needed support with navigating co-parent issues. I needed to find people who were, in at least some ways, going thru what I am. The first time I went I didn't want to go, or go back. I forced myself to go back and am so glad. That second week I made some friends and am feeling like I have some support now. My family has been awesome but there is nothing like going through something and having others who are also going thru it to talk to.
My ex moved in with his girlfriend and her 5 kids when he left me and our 4 so I totally get it! If you want to talk feel free to message me!
Hang in there it gets better. I'm at the 5 month mark and I'm feeling pretty normal with the exception of the back and forth with the kids. They haven't spent nights with him yet but they will eventually. You know what? I'm actually starting to look forward to that, and having some time off.